CQC requires improvements from a home care agency providing care to people in Cumbria and Lancashire

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told St Gregory's Home Care Limited that they must take immediate action to improve standards of care.  

In a report published today, CQC inspectors identify a number of concerns following an inspection of the agency based in Carnforth, in June 2014. The inspection was carried out in response to information of concern.

Visiting inspectors found that the agency was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led; and four of the five national standards inspected were not being met.      

A full report detailing the findings from this inspection has been published on the CQC website this week.

Inspectors concerns included:

• People's needs were not assessed and inadequate care planning and assessments put people at risk of not being provided with appropriate care and support to meet their individual needs.
• Inspectors were concerned that people who used the service were not receiving safe and consistent care, as records showed that visits were often delayed or missed entirely.
• There was not enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs.
• Staff members did not receive one to one supervision or appraisals so were not fully supported to deliver care safely and to an appropriate standard.
• The provider had failed to introduce an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

As a result of these findings CQC is currently considering the need for further regulatory action against St Gregory's Home Care Limited and will report in due course on any action they do decide to take.

In the meantime CQC has requested the provider submits an action plan detailing the steps they will put in place to remedy inspectors concerns.

St Gregory's Home Care Limited provides care services to people in their own homes. The service covers an extensive area of the South Lakes and parts of North Lancashire.

Debbie Westhead, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North said:

"The failings at St Georges Care Home Care Limited are of serious concern and we are assessing the need for further action against the agency – although we cannot discuss the nature of that action any further at this stage for legal reasons.

"We have shared our findings with the Local Authority Safeguarding Team, we have also told St Gregory's Homecare Ltd very clearly where improvements must be made.

"The people receiving care from St Gregory's Homecare Ltd are entitled to receive services which are safe, effective, compassionate, well led, and responsive to their needs. There should be enough qualified and skilled staff to deliver care that fully meets people's needs and it is unacceptable that staffing levels were found to be falling short.

"We will continue to monitor St Gregory's Homecare Ltd very closely in liaison with the local authority to ensure that people receiving care are not at risk of immediate harm, and we will report further on any further action we intend to take in due course."

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.

Ends

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